Green Synthesis of Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Using Environmentally Benign Organic Acid Catalysts: A Sustainable, Metal‐Free, and Solvent‐Free Route to Ring‐Opening Polymerization.
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| Title: | Green Synthesis of Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Using Environmentally Benign Organic Acid Catalysts: A Sustainable, Metal‐Free, and Solvent‐Free Route to Ring‐Opening Polymerization. |
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| Authors: | Motokucho, Suguru1,2 (AUTHOR) motoku@nagasaki-u.ac.jp, Mito, Yusei1 (AUTHOR), Sasai, Moe1 (AUTHOR), Dao, Anh Thi Ngoc1 (AUTHOR), Nakatani, Hisayuki1,2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Macromolecular Materials & Engineering. Mar2026, Vol. 311 Issue 3, p1-8. 8p. |
| Subjects: | Ring-opening polymerization, Acid catalysts, Biomaterials, Catalytic activity, Sustainable chemistry, Polycaprolactone |
| Abstract: | Metal‐free polymerization is required to prevent contamination of polymeric materials by residual metal catalysts. In this study, the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone (CL) is investigated under bulk conditions at 100°C using benzyl alcohol (BnOH) as the initiator and seven environmentally benign organic acids (EBOAs) as activators (catalysts). In all cases, ROP yields poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) with narrow polydispersities (Ð). Kinetic analysis shows first‐order behavior, indicating a controlled process. The reaction rate constant (k) correlates with the acidity (pKa) of EBOAs, with stronger acids (lower pKa) exhibiting higher catalytic activity among those tested. Substituting BnOH with alternative alcohol initiators produces PCL bearing well‐defined heterotelechelic end groups, such as ally or polyethylene glycol moieties. Hydroxy‐terminated PCL enables further post‐polymerization, including chain extension and block polymerization (poly(ε‐caprolactone)–b–poly(δ‐valerolactone); PCL–b–PVL) with δ‐valerolactone using EBOAs, while preserving narrow Ð. Moreover, the composition unit in PCL–b–PVL can be tuned by selecting EBOAs of different acidity, directly influencing catalytic activity. This controlled EBOA‐based system is useful for applications where metal contamination must be avoided, such as polymeric biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Macromolecular Materials & Engineering is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 192630341 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Green Synthesis of Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Using Environmentally Benign Organic Acid Catalysts: A Sustainable, Metal‐Free, and Solvent‐Free Route to Ring‐Opening Polymerization. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Motokucho%2C+Suguru%22">Motokucho, Suguru</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> motoku@nagasaki-u.ac.jp</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mito%2C+Yusei%22">Mito, Yusei</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sasai%2C+Moe%22">Sasai, Moe</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dao%2C+Anh+Thi+Ngoc%22">Dao, Anh Thi Ngoc</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nakatani%2C+Hisayuki%22">Nakatani, Hisayuki</searchLink><relatesTo>1,2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR) – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Macromolecular+Materials+%26+Engineering%22">Macromolecular Materials & Engineering</searchLink>. Mar2026, Vol. 311 Issue 3, p1-8. 8p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ring-opening+polymerization%22">Ring-opening polymerization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Acid+catalysts%22">Acid catalysts</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biomaterials%22">Biomaterials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Catalytic+activity%22">Catalytic activity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sustainable+chemistry%22">Sustainable chemistry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polycaprolactone%22">Polycaprolactone</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Metal‐free polymerization is required to prevent contamination of polymeric materials by residual metal catalysts. In this study, the ring‐opening polymerization (ROP) of ε‐caprolactone (CL) is investigated under bulk conditions at 100°C using benzyl alcohol (BnOH) as the initiator and seven environmentally benign organic acids (EBOAs) as activators (catalysts). In all cases, ROP yields poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) with narrow polydispersities (Ð). Kinetic analysis shows first‐order behavior, indicating a controlled process. The reaction rate constant (k) correlates with the acidity (pKa) of EBOAs, with stronger acids (lower pKa) exhibiting higher catalytic activity among those tested. Substituting BnOH with alternative alcohol initiators produces PCL bearing well‐defined heterotelechelic end groups, such as ally or polyethylene glycol moieties. Hydroxy‐terminated PCL enables further post‐polymerization, including chain extension and block polymerization (poly(ε‐caprolactone)–b–poly(δ‐valerolactone); PCL–b–PVL) with δ‐valerolactone using EBOAs, while preserving narrow Ð. Moreover, the composition unit in PCL–b–PVL can be tuned by selecting EBOAs of different acidity, directly influencing catalytic activity. This controlled EBOA‐based system is useful for applications where metal contamination must be avoided, such as polymeric biomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Macromolecular Materials & Engineering is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1002/mame.202500425 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 8 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Ring-opening polymerization Type: general – SubjectFull: Acid catalysts Type: general – SubjectFull: Biomaterials Type: general – SubjectFull: Catalytic activity Type: general – SubjectFull: Sustainable chemistry Type: general – SubjectFull: Polycaprolactone Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Green Synthesis of Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Using Environmentally Benign Organic Acid Catalysts: A Sustainable, Metal‐Free, and Solvent‐Free Route to Ring‐Opening Polymerization. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Motokucho, Suguru – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mito, Yusei – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sasai, Moe – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Dao, Anh Thi Ngoc – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nakatani, Hisayuki IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: Mar2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 14387492 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 311 – Type: issue Value: 3 Titles: – TitleFull: Macromolecular Materials & Engineering Type: main |
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